Model disciplined in Oxford University sexism row

A former model involved in a sexism row at Oxford University is hauled before
a disciplinary committee.

By Richard Eden

7:28AM BST 29 Apr 2012

When Madeline Grant made a light-hearted reference to her breasts in her application to be the Librarian of the Oxford Union, she hoped that it would prick the pomposity of those undergraduates who took themselves too seriously.

The 19-year-old former model has, however, now discovered just how seriously the officials at the Union, whose past presidents include Sir Edward Heath and Boris Johnson, take the sexism row.

Mandrake can disclose that the English student at St Hilda’s College is to be hauled before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday, charged with bringing the Union into disrepute.

“It’s ridiculous,” says Grant, the daughter of the former BBC sports presenter Sally Jones. “At great expense, they are paying for former Union officials to come to Oxford and sit on the committee which will decide my fate.”

In February, the alumna of King Edward VI High School for Girls posted election material for the position which contained a reference to her breasts. “I don’t hack, I just have a great rack,” she wrote.

This prompted a much-talked-about row among her fellow Union members. The comments, which were contained in a “draft manifesto” that was posted on an official Union noticeboard as part of her election material, were condemned as “deeply offensive”.

She tells me: “I’m wondering if I should leave the Union. The main speakers they have lined up are Geri Halliwell and Nelly Furtado, so I wouldn’t miss much.” Ouch.